Cabinet Committees (Hansard, 22 November 1994)

§ The Prime Minister

An updated list of the ministerial committees of the cabinet, giving their composition and terms of reference, is given below. Copies of this list are available in the Library of the House.

Ministerial Committee on Economic and Domestic Policy (EDP)

Composition

Prime Minister (chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Wales
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Minister without Portfolio
Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.

Terms of reference To consider strategic issues relating to the Government's economic and domestic policies

Ministerial Committee on Science and Technology (EDS)

Composition

Prime Minister (chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Transport
Chief Secretary, Treasury
The Chief Scientific Adviser is in attendance. The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of reference To review science and technology policy".

Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy (OPD)

Composition

Prime Minister (chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Defence
Attorney General
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Lord Privy Seal also receive papers and may be invited to attend as necessary.
The Chief of Defence Staff will attend as required, as will the Chiefs of Staff when necessary.

Terms of reference To keep under review the Government's Defence and Overseas policy.

Ministerial Committee on Hong Kong and Other Dependent Territories (OPDK)

Composition

Prime Minister (chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Defence
Lord President of the Council
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Others, including the Attorney General, the Governor of Hong Kong and the British Ambassador in Peking may be invited to attend as appropriate. The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of Reference To keep under review the implementation of the agreement with the Chinese on the future of Hong Kong and the implications of that agreement for the Government of Hong Kong and the wellbeing of its people; and to keep under review as necessary the Government's policy towards other Dependent Territories.

Ministerial Committee on Nuclear Defence Policy (OPDN)

Composition

Prime Minister (chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for Defence

Terms of Reference To keep under review the Government's policy on nuclear defence.

Ministerial Committee on Northern Ireland (NI)

Composition

Prime Minister (chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Lord Privy Seal
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Attorney General
Other Ministers are invited to attend as the nature of the business requires.

Terms of Reference To oversee the Government's policy on Northern Ireland issues and relations with the Republic of Ireland on these matters.

Ministerial Committee on the Intelligence Services (IS)

Composition

Prime Minister (chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Defence
The Lord President of the Council and the Attorney General may be invited to attend as appropriate.

Terms of Reference To keep under review policy on the security and intelligence services.

Ministerial Committee on the Environment (EDE)

Composition

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Lord Privy Seal
Chief Secretary, Treasury
The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of reference To consider questions of environmental policy

Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs (EDH)

Composition

Lord President of the Council (chairman)
Lord Chancellor
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Social Security
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Lord Privy Seal
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Minister without Portfolio
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
The Attorney General, the Lord Advocate and the Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms also receive papers and are invited to attend as necessary.

Terms of Reference To consider home and social policy issues

Ministerial Committee on Industrial, Commercial and Consumer Affairs (EDI)

Composition

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Transport
Lord Privy Seal
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Minister without Portfolio
The Attorney General also receives papers and may be invited to attend as necessary.

Terms of Reference To consider industrial, commercial, and consumer issues including questions of competition and deregulation

Ministerial Committee on Local Government (EDL)

Composition

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Social Security
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Lord Privy Seal
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Minister without Portfolio
Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration)

Terms of reference To consider issues affecting local government, including the annual allocation of resources

Ministerial Committee on Regeneration (EDR)

Composition

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Chairman)
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Transport
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Minister without Portfolio
Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Minister for Local Government, Housing, and Urban Regeneration)

The Secretaries of State for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are invited to attend as appropriate.

Terms of Reference To consider regeneration policies and their coordination".

93W

Ministerial Committee on Public Expenditure (EDX)

Composition

Chancellor of the Exchequer (chairman)
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Chief Secretary, Treasury
The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of Reference To consider the allocation of the public expenditure control totals and make recommendations to the Cabinet

Ministerial Committee on the Queen's Speeches and Future Legislation (FLG)

Composition

Lord President of the Council (chairman)
Lord Chancellor
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Lord Privy Seal
Minister without Portfolio
Attorney General
Lord Advocate
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
Financial Secretary, Treasury
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs may be invited to attend or be represented for discussion of The Queen's Speeches.

Terms of reference To prepare and submit to the Cabinet drafts of the Queen's Speeches to Parliament, and proposals for the Government's legislative programme for each Session of Parliament".

Ministerial Committee on Legislation (LG)

Composition

Lord President of the Council (chairman)
Lord Chancellor
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Wales
Lord Privy Seal
Attorney General
Lord Advocate
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Minister of State, Home Office
Financial Secretary, Treasury
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland also receives papers and is invited to attend as necessary.

Terms of reference To examine all draft Bills; to consider the Parliamentary handling of Government Bills, European Community documents and Private Members' business, and such other related matters as may be necessary; and to keep under review the Government's policy in relation to issues of Parliamentary procedures".

Ministerial Sub-committee on Health Strategy (EDH(H))

Composition

Lord President of the Council (chairman)
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Social Security
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Transport
Minister of State, Home Office
Paymaster General
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage

94W

The Chief Medical Officer is in attendance. The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of reference To oversee the development, implementation and monitoring of the Government's health strategy, to coordinate the Government's policies on United Kingdom-wide issues affecting health, and report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs

Ministerial Sub-committee on Public Sector Pay (EDI (P))

Composition

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Social Security
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Transport
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science
The Lord Chancellor also receives papers and may be invited to attend as necessary. The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of reference To coordinate the handling of pay issues in the public sector, and report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Industrial, Commercial and Consumer Affairs

Ministerial Sub-committee on European Questions (OPD(E)

Composition

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Defence
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Transport
Minister without Portfolio
Attorney General
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Lord Advocate also receives papers. He and other Ministers will be invited to attend as the nature of the business requires.
The United Kingdom's Permanent Representatives to the European Union is also in attendance.

Terms of reference To consider questions relating to the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy

Ministerial Sub-committee on Terrorism (OPD(T))

Composition

Secretary of State for the Home Department (chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Transport
Attorney General

Terms of reference To keep under review the arrangements for countering terrorism and for dealing with terrorist incidents and their consequences and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee of Defence and Overseas Policy".

Ministerial Sub-committee on Drug Misuse (EDH(D))

Composition

Lord President of the Council (chairman)
Solicitor General
Minister of State, Home Office
Paymaster General
Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence
Minister of State, Scottish Office
Minister of State, Department for Education
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office

Others, including the Minister for Overseas Development and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State from the Departments of the Environment and Employment, may be invited to attend as appropriate and receive all papers.

Terms of reference To coordinate the Government's national and international policies for tackling drugs misuse, and report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs

Ministerial Sub-committee on Women's Issues (EDH (W))

Composition

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (chairman)
Secretary of State for Education
Minister of State, Home Office
Paymaster General
Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Minister for Construction and Planning)
Minister of State, Scottish Office
Minister of State, Department of Employment
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office

The Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence, and Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, also receive papers and may be invited to attend as necessary. The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of reference To review and develop the Government's policy and strategy on issues of special concern to women: to oversee their implementation; and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs".

Ministerial Sub-committee on London (EDL(L))

Composition

Secretary of State for the Environment (chairman)
Minister without Portfolio
Minister of State, Home Office
Financial Secretary, Treasury
Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Minister for Industry and Energy)
Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration)
Minister of State, Department of Health (Minister for Health)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage
Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Minister for Transport in London)

Terms of reference To coordinate the Government's policies on London

Ministerial Group on Sanctions Against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Gen 27)

Composition

Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (chairman) Paymaster General
Minister of State, Treasury
Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Minister for Trade)
Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Ministry of Defence
Minister of State, Department of Transport

96W

Terms of Reference To keep under review the implementation of the sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia imposed under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 757, 787 and 820, and to report to the Ministerial Committee on Overseas and Defence Policy as necessary.

Ministerial Group on Competitiveness (GEN 29)

Composition

President of the Board of Trade (chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
State for Education
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Transport
Representatives of other Departments may be invited to attend as necessary. The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of Reference To keep issues affecting the United Kingdom's competitiveness under review; and to update, in whole or part, as appropriate, from time to time the White Paper on Competitiveness for consideration by the Ministerial Committee on Economic and Domestic Policy.

Ministerial Group on Card Technology (GEN 34)

Composition

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for Social Security
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Transport
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science
The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of Reference To consider the developing technology of card systems, and the potential demand for such systems from Government Departments, to ensure a co-ordinated approach across the Government taking account of the impact on the individual citizen".